Chris Cotillard and Kim Ashton

CHRIS Cotillard and Kim Ashton showed they will be a force to be reckoned with in tomorrow’s mixed doubles competition after both reaching the quarter-finals of the singles events yesterday.

Cotillard was knocked out 21-7, 21-18 by the top seed Greenland’s Bror Madsen having earlier beaten Gibraltar’s Kasper Thy Jessen 21-17, 14-21, 21-10 and Guernseyman James Domaille 21-12, 21-7.

In the ladies’ singles, Kim Ashton was Jersey’s top player as she made it through to the quarter-final but lost 21-17, 21-15 to Greenland’s Mille Schiott Kongstad, the No 2 seed, having earlier beaten Guori Poulsen of the Faroe Islands 21-7, 21-9 and Laura Minto of the Falkland Islands 21-4, 21-6.

Ashton said: ‘I had quite an easy game in the first round but then the second round was tougher. I knew I was the better player and I managed to beat her and then the third match, against Kongstad who plays full time, was a great opportunity – but a very hard match.

‘What went well for me I think was the fact that I was able to get some movement back because after the team event I was really struggling with having played so many matches and with the environment – it was 24 degrees this morning.

‘Personally I’m a bit disappointed with the result as I wanted to achieve a bronze medal but, looking back, I faced a full time player and managed to challenge her so I know that I can perform at that level. And it’s the same for Chris – there is disappointment but also positives.
‘Now we pair up for the mixed event and I know that between us we hope to definitely medal so we’ll see how far we can progress. In the team event we played together and bonded well, winning some crucial matches and hopefully we can do the same in the mixed.’

Alex Hutchings went out in the second round of the singles to Greenland’s Mini Kleist 21-12, 21-13 having progressed through the first round with a 21-11, 21-9 win over the Isle of Wight’s Simon Ellis.

Tom Gibbs was dealt the same second round blow, losing 21-10, 21-14 having gained a bye in the first round and Gavin Carter was dismissed in the first round by the Isle of Wight’s Christopher Massey 21-14, 21-9.

Jade Coombs-Goodfellow had a bye in the first round but was knocked out in the second round by Guernsey’s Anika Johnson 21-15, 21-17 as was the case with Marilisa Garnier who lost to the Isle of Man’s Kimberley Clague 21-8, 21-4 while Katharine Thornton had a walkover in the first round then lost to Greenland’s Rina Lorentzen 21-16, 23-21.